Top Japanese Restaurant in Fountain Valley
Kappo Honda
18450 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, United States
Kappo Honda in Fountain Valley is one of our favorite authentic Japanese restaurants and sushi bars. From the decor to the waiters and waitresses, you feel as if you could be in Japan. They have an extensive menu that, honestly, can be a little overwhelming but in a good way! Kappo Honda has a unique beer menu where you can order a selection that is often found in Japan to complete your Japan dining experience! The food and service are both excellent and worth having to wait a little longer on some nights and weekends.
Satoshi sushi
9039 Garfield Ave, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, United States
Definitely not Japanese owned. Which is fine, if the food and service is good. Not so much this place. The chairs were dirty, I needed to swipe it off with my hand. There was a chair blocking our seats that we couldn't pull out our chairs without moving the chair. They served rice on a small plate and not a rice bowl (which is offense to Japanese people, because in Japan, they give offerings of food / rice in small plates to the dead and leave it on their shrines.) A sushi restaurant doing this makes you question if they know anything about sushi or Japanese food and culture. The hot green tea tasted like detergent. I'm not sure how you can mess up tea, but i guess it's possible. We needed to ask for the tea twice, since they seemed to have forgot about it. When the tea came, two of the teas were lukewarm and one was piping hot. We ordered Sashimi, which wasn't bad. I just wondered why the sushi chef would forget to add the ginger and wasabi. Btw the sashimi was $69 just saying. Overall, it was funny how bad the experience was. Definitely won't be back. 2 stars cuz the sashimi wasn't bad.
Munchie-Ken japanese ramen
18687 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, United States
Its always great when Orange County gets another awesome ramen shop. This ramen is legit, but also super unique. I havent tried salmon ramen until today and it really works. I had two bowls (portions are a good size, Im just used to eating two bowls of ramen at a lot of places haha...). The broths are complex, the noodles have a good bite and bounce, and the toppings are all great and add something extra to the bowl. You get 3 types of salmon, one is some fried cubes (super tasty, i eat these first so they stay crunchy), some raw or rare salmon cuts that slightly cook in the hot soup, and some salmon soboro (at least thats what it reminds me of) that is very well seasoned and flavored. the broccoli added is also really nice and has a great charred flavor, maybe its roasted? Also, the bowls come with a small side of this special paste that tastes amazing as well. Definitely come try it out
Chidori Sushi
17870 Newhope St Suite 102, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, United States
This is a small, hole in the wall sushi place. You wouldnt expect to find some of the better sushi youll ever have here, but it is fantastic. The prices are absolutely reasonable as well, if not outright cheap for freshly prepared sushi of this quality.I ordered Chirashi. Miso soup was served first. The soup was excellent. Far above most miso you get with sushi, clearly not an afterthought here. The Chirashi was served in a bowl, as is standard, with 12 (IIRC) pieces. I could wax poetic about the quality of it, but suffice to say it was EXCELLENT. The rice bed was your standard vinegar rice.Service was polite, fast and professional.This is definitely my new go-to sushi place in the area. Cant wait to go back!
INI Ristorante
16129 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, United States
First off, the space felt so light and refreshing. They really lean into that minimal aesthetic playing off natural vibes - lighting, neutral colors/tones and materials. Not to mention, theres a tree in the middle of the dining room that sits under a skylight and the tables are lined with greenery throughout. They really paid special attention to detail and I was in awe of how thoughtful the space was decorated because I want this vibe in my own home.Menus are available for viewing via QR code. Ive had a few friends reco this place and they had provided a few noteworthy items to try, but definitely ask your server if you need more opinions! We asked if there were any specials and our server Kristy said they added lobster to the menu. You can add a half lobster tail to the Spicy Miso Carbonara or Seafood Malfadine, or get a whole tail with the Prime Bone-in Ribeye. You got options! We opted out, but heres what we got from each section:SOUP & SALADBurrata Caprese - honey ponzu, medley of cherry/heirloom tomatoes and basil. I think it could use more basil, but great textural contrast of firm tomatoes and creamy burrata.PIZZASeafood Poke Pizza. The pizza was definitely intriguing as it was a mix of hot and cold elements. Fresh out of the oven as a thin, crispy crust topped with hamachi, octopus, shrimp, corn, arugula, sweet onion and masago roe. Think poke salad on a pizza drizzled with a light sesame dressing. The crust remained crispy and was a great vessel for dipping into leftover pasta sauces. Keep reading below.PASTASpicy Miso Carbonara. This was my personal fave! Thick, chewy udon noodles swimming in a silky, creamy spicy miso sauce with thick-cut bacon and shiitake mushrooms. For added richness, they finish with a raw egg yolk on top. Although it says spicy in name, overall heat/spice was relatively mild imo.Seafood Malfadine. House-made noodles in a spicy tomato cream sauce with baby scallops, crab, shrimp and sausage. The portion came with three shrimps, so one for each of us at the table. The noodles remind me of the curled edges on lasagna. Such a fun, frilly shape and texture. This one had a punchy kick, but more from the sausage rather than the sauce.DESSERTPeaches & Cream. Table fave! Buttermilk panna cotta, peaches, brown butter crumble and mascarpone cream. Think deconstructed peach cobbler! Loved how they incorporated seasonality and did peaches justice. If you have some space left for dessert, this one is very light and a popular order.Chocolate Hazelnut. Our server mentioned it was like a ferrero rocher. I love hazelnut and certainly agree on the flavor profile. Rich chocolate layered with a praline mousse, cereal rocher, crushed hazelnuts and vanilla ice cream - it was so good.SIGNATURE COCKTAILSYuzurita. This one surprised me in a good way because 1) I didnt read the description 2) the cocktail was really balanced. You definitely taste the yuzu kosho which provided an unexpected punch and lingering spice on the tongue. Its not very citrusy, but more like a spicy marg.MOCKTAILSYuzu Peach Refresher. More peach forward, but a great non-alcoholic beverage. Its got the same dehydrated lime garnish so you can get a cheers boomerang and no one would know the difference.As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed each selection with minimal complaints. The only complaint we had was the impact of Golden Hour based on where we were seated. When the sun sets and the light reflects off the glass pane windows, a portion of our seating area was in that very bright path of blindness. Although it lasted for about 15-20 minutes, some blinds or shades at the entrance would have helped the situation.Overall, this place is definitely trending up. Highly suggest making a reservation through Resy or pick your battles with walk-up.
Sushi Koto
18120 Brookhurst St Unit 25, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, United States
Sushi Koto is an authentic Japanese sushi restaurant located in California that offers an exceptional dining experience. From the moment you step inside the restaurant, you are welcomed by the friendly and attentive staff who are dedicated to providing you with the best possible experience.One of the standout features of Sushi Koto is the high-quality sushi. Each dish is made with precision and care, using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. The sushi is beautifully presented and tastes incredibly fresh and flavorful. The restaurant also offers a wide variety of sushi rolls, including some unique and creative combinations that are sure to impress even the most discerning sushi lover.The menu at Sushi Koto is diverse and offers something for everyone. Along with sushi, the restaurant offers a variety of Japanese dishes, such as tempura, teriyaki, and udon noodles. Each dish is carefully prepared and beautifully presented, ensuring that every aspect of your dining experience is exceptional.The atmosphere at Sushi Koto is also noteworthy. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, creating a warm and inviting ambiance that is perfect for an intimate dinner or a night out with friends. The seating is comfortable, and the lighting is just right, creating a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere.In conclusion, Sushi Koto is an excellent Japanese sushi restaurant that offers high-quality food, a diverse menu, and a warm and inviting atmosphere. The attention to detail and commitment to quality are evident in every aspect of the dining experience, making it a must-visit for anyone who loves sushi or Japanese cuisine in general.
Shin-Sen-Gumi Robata & Yakitori - Fountain Valley
18315 Brookhurst St #1, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, United States
Is delicious. Unlike the main store in Gardena, they dont seem to get many Japanese customers.The location is different, so the way the store is run is different, but you can relax and enjoy Robatayaki where you can have freshly grilled piping hot skewers served directly to you.You can specify the saltiness and sauce flavor for the skewers. If you eat it with the yuzu pepper that is always available, it will give it a spicy kick and it will be delicious. Yuzu pepper goes well with both salty and sauce flavors.---Good taste. It is different from serving compared with a Main Restaurant in Gardena, then there are few Japanese Customers here. Anyway, you can enjoy Just Grilled and Very Hot Skewer Cuisines directly served from Grill then feel Very Comfortable.You can choose Salt Taste or BBQ Sauce Taste, then adding YUZU-KOSHO(Mashed Paste of Chilli, Citrus Skin, and Salt) it is always put on the tables and the counter, taste changes Spicy then more tasty. YUZU-KOSHO matches Salt Taste and BBQ Sauce Taste.
Tsuruhashi
18798 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, United States
If you havent had Tsuruhashi, I highly recommend you give this place a try. Its a bit pricey, but well worth the price. In my opinion, its the best Japanese BBQ restaurant in southern California.
Tsuru Ichi Wagyu
Fountain Valley, CA 92708, United States
I had an extraordinary experience at this high-quality Japanese Wagyu BBQ restaurant, called Tsuru Ichi. The restaurant exuded an inviting ambiance with a blend of modern elegance and traditional Japanese aesthetics.The Wagyu beef was of unparalleled quality, boasting exquisite marbling and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. The A5 grade Wagyu, in particular, was a revelation. The menu offered a diverse selection of cuts, allowing us to explore the nuances of Japanese beef.The impeccable service added to the charm of the meal. The skilled chefs grilled the meat to perfection and explained each cuts characteristics. The waitstaff were attentive and knowledgeable, guiding us through the menu and enhancing the overall experience.In summary, this restaurant is a destination for connoisseurs seeking the finest Wagyu and impeccable service. Its a culinary journey into the heart of Japanese beef culture that I cant wait to revisit.
California Shabu Shabu
18908 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, United States
Love how bright and clean the restaurant is. Nice setup as well. Most importantly, the meat quality was good. We opted for 3 different meat plates to try out (prime rib eye, choice rib eye, and pork belly), and all the meat quality was pretty good. Funny that we thought the prime rib eye would be the best, but we actually preferred the choice rib eye and pork belly better. So tender and soft. Loved that the veggies were crispy and fresh too.Service was fast and super friendly. I especially enjoyed the spicy sauce they recommended to try, it went so well with the sesame/goma sauce. It def added a good flavor to it. (Note: just one drop is enough. Only if you can handle heat really well, I tried two drops and it was quite spicy)Also, would recommend getting a complimentary bowl of kombu soy sauce from them, it was a nice mini treat to enjoy your ramen at the end of the meal. Enjoy!